Activity doll

ABSTRACT

A doll is provided having a hollow body with one or more pivotally mounted limbs arranged for movement from a normally retracted position at the side or in front of the body to an actuated position at a higher location or across the body by operating a manual actuator such as a depressible member which is accessible to the rear of the body. In another embodiment, a mechanism subassembly is constructed for selectively operating an arm and leg of a doll. The arm or leg of the doll is frictionally adjustable on its pivot mount permitting selective adjustment of the path through which movement is effected so as to permit the simulation of various human activities. In another embodiment, the limb is bendable on its mount so as to permit the simulation of still further human activities when the limb is actuated.

United States Patent [191 Lemelson et al.

[4 1 Sept. 18, 1973 ACTIVITY DOLL [76] Inventors: Jerome II. Lemelson,85 Rector St.,

Metuchen, NJ. 08840; William Nutting, 125 Beach 124 St., Rockaway Park,NY. 11694 [22] Filed: Oct. 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 297,451

[52] US. Cl. 46/119, 46/148 [51] Int. Cl A63h 13/04 [58] Field of Search46/151, 148, 118, 46/119, 120

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,473,260 10/1969 Kripak eta1. 46/118 X 3,672,097 6/1972 Gardel 46/120 3,703,048 11/1972 Cooper...46/148 3,106,800 10/1963 Fletcher 46/118 3,235,259 2/1966 Glass et al.46/118 X 2,638,348 5/1953 Arenson et a1. 46/148 X 525,716 9/1894 McElroy46/119 2,764,841 10/1956 Birnbaum 46/119 2,975,533 3/1961 Burns 46/120FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 672,206 10/1964 Italy 46/120 PrimaryExaminerF. Barry Shay [57] ABSTRACT A doll is provided having a hollowbody with one or more pivotally mounted limbs arranged for movement froma normally retracted position at the side or in front of the body to anactuated position at a higher location or across the body by operating amanual actuator such as a depressible member which is accessible to therear of the body. In another embodiment, a mechanism subassembly isconstructed for selectively operating an arm and leg of a doll. The armor leg of the doll is frictionally adjustable on its pivot mountpermitting selective adjustment of the path through which movement iseffected so as to permit the simulation of various human activities. Inanother embodiment, the limb is bendable on its mount so as to permitthe simulation of still further human activities when the limb isactuated.

18 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEPI 8l975 sum 1 BF 2 ACTIVITYDOLL SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to dolls in generaland more particularly to constructions of manually actuated mechanismsfor moving the limbs of dolls with a reciprocating motion. The prior arthas provided a number of doll constructions having movable limbs. Forthe most part, most of these constructions involve the movement of thelimb by direct manual operation or by means of a motor wherein the pathof movement for a particular cycle is always predetermined therebypermitting the doll operation to simulate a single and particularactivity. Mechanisms which have heretofore involved more complexoperation than the single stroke movement ofa limb such as movement in aplurality of directions, are extremely complex both in structure andoperation.

As will hereinafter be described in detail, the instant inventionprovides a rugged, compact, manually actuated mechanism for moving thelimb of a doll to simulate not one but a variety of actions similar tothose made by humans. Such actions as hand waving, kissthrowing,pointing, eating, drinking, brushing, object throwing, kicking,cleaning, ironing and dusting may all be simulated, using the mechanismof the instant invention by providing simple means for manually,frictionally pre-adjusting the limb on its mount so that when it isoperated thereafter by the actuator, the path through which the limb ispivoted and swings may be varied from one extending from the downwardvertical position of the limb or rearwardly thereof to a variety oflocations upwardly therefrom and ending from a position below thehorizontal to one in which the limb is directed vertically upwardly orto the rear of the torso of the doll. The limb is caused to pivot acrossthe body, an angular adjustment is provided to simulate, for example,bending of the limb at the elbow prior to its pivotal movement by meansof the actuator so that a variety of other human activities may besimulated thereby.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the instant invention to providea novel and compact manually actauted mechanism for moving limbs of adoll relative to the body thereof.

Another object is to provide improvements in mechanisms for manuallycontrolling the pivotal movement of a doll arm from a normally at-restlocation in its pivotal movement across part of the doll body to itsmaximum degree of throw so as to permit the simulation of variousactivities wherein the mechanism is biased to return the limb to theat-rest location and further, wherein said at-rest location may bemanually adjusted prior to operation of the doll mechanism so that thedoll arm may be adjustably moved through a variety of paths to simulatea variety of human activities.

Yet another object is to provide an animated doll having a mechanism forcausing a limb such as the arm thereof to pivotally swing through aparticular arc and wherein the arm is either bendably adjustable alongat least part of its length or frictionally adjustable about its elbowto permit a child to simulate a variety of different human activitieswhich are accomplished by swinging movement of the human arm while thelower arm thereof is in a variety of different attitudes with respect tothe upper arm.

A still further object is to provide a mechanism of this type in whichthe depressible member, when depressed,

positively drives the limb in a forward direction and upon reaching theend of its stroke, the member automatically releases the limb to permita biasing means to return the limb to its normal position.

With the above and such other objects in view as may hereafter morefully appear, the invention consists of the novel constructions,combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully describedand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understoodthat changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fallwithin the scope of the invention as claimed.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a rear elevation of a doll constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the instant invention and having therear body section removed to reveal the limb operating mechanism insidethe doll body.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the doll of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 and 4 are cross-sections taken through lines 33 and 4-4respectively, of FIG. 1 looking in the directions of the respectivearrows 3-3 and 4-4.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the limb operating mechanism for thedoll of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective illustrating another embodiment of a limboperating mechanism constructed in accordance with the teachings of theinstant invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken in a horizontal plane extending throughthe mechanism of FIG. 6 when mounted in a doll body.

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of an activity doll with its front bodysection removed to reveal another embodiment of a limb operatingmechanism.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are side elevations looking in the direction of arrows9-9 of FIG. 8 with the near wall of the body removed to reveal theoperating mechanism. In FIG. 9A the mechanism operable arm and leg areshown in their normal positions while in FIG. 98 these limbs are eachactuated to raised positions.

FIG. 10 is a perspective of the subassembly comprising the limboperating mechanism.

Now referring to the Figures and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 5showing animation doll 10 including hollow structure having body 11,legs l2, l3, arms l4, l5 and head 16. Arm l4, legs l2, l3 and body 11are constructed of relatively rigid injection molded plastic such ascellulose acetate or rigid vinyl while arm 15 and head 16 areconstructed of flexible vinyl. In a manner well known to the art, arm14, legs l2, l3, and head 16 are each mounted to body 11 with a frictionfit enabling these body appendages to remain in adjusted positions.

Arm 15 is provided with an internal longitudinally extending bendablestiffening wire 17 which permits arm 15 to be bent at the elbow and toremain in such bent position as illustrated in the phantom positions ofFIG. 2. It is noted that the bent position of arm 15 in FIG. 3 differsfrom the positions of arm 15 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The upper end of arm 15is frictionally fitted to disk 21, which lies in a vertical plane, sothat arm 15 may also be adjusted angularly about the center of disk 21as a pivot. Disk 21 is part of molded plastic member 20 which alsoincludes extension 22, stub shaft 23 and spur gear segment 24 formedabout shaft 23 as a center. Extension 22 is at right angles to shaft 23with the longitudinal axis of extension 22 projecting through the centerof disk 21 at right angles to the plane thereof.

The teeth of gear 24 are in mesh with the teeth of spur gear segment 26forming part of another molded plastic member 25. Member 25 alsoincludes stub shaft 27, extension 28 and crank pin 29. Gear 26 is formedabout shaft 27 as a center. Shaft 27 and pin 29 are offset from oneanother with their respective longitudinal axes extending parallel tothe longitudinal axis of shaft 23. Crank pin 29 extends into slot 31 inthe horizontal section 32 of depressible operator member 30. Member 30includes manually engageable extension 33 and guideportion 34 slideablymounted in guide slot 36 of member 35. Coil spring 37 is wound about theportion of shaft 27 just below gear 26 with one end of spring 37extending into gear aperture 26a and the other end of spring 37 abuttingthe inner surface of the front body portion 11a so as to bias gear 26 ina counterclockwise direction with respect to FIG. 3.

Extension 33 projects through aperture 38 in rear section 11b of body11. Body sections 11a, 11b are bonded together along vertical seams 41,42, in a manner well known to the art, and each is provided withcooperating internal formations 43, 44, which, as seen in FIG. 1,provide bearing supports for shafts 23 and 27. Body 11 also includeselongated aperture 51 which provides clearance for the movement ofextension 22. Spring 37 biases the operating elements 20, 25 and 30 tothe solid line position of FIG. 3.

By manually engaging and depressing operator extension 33, that ismoving extension 33 toward front body portion 11a, slot 31 moves forwardcausing crank pin 29 to rotate clockwise with respect to FIG. 3 therebyrotating shaft 27 and gear 26 carried thereby in a clockwise direction.The teeth of gear 26 being in engagement with the teeth of gear 24 causegear 24 to move counterclockwise with respect to FIG. 3 to pivotextension 22 counterclockwise. This motion of gear 24 moves disk 21about the generally vertical axis of shaft 23 from the rear toward thefront of body 11, carrying arm bodily through a generally horizontalplane toward the front of body 11 from the solid line position of FIG. 3to the phantom position thereof. When extension 33 is released, spring37 returns operating elements 20, 25, 30 and arm 15 to their positionsof FIG. 3.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate anothe embodiment of the instant inventionwherein a single forward stroke of the manual operator member 51 causesarm 55 to move through a complete front to rear cycle without thenecessity of releasing member 51. More particularly the upper end of arm55 is pivotally mounted to fixed pin 56 and is provided with stiff wireextension 57 projecting into the space formed at the bifurcated upperend section of lever 58. Lever 58 is part of operating mechanism 50which includes mounting member 59 fixedly secured to the interiorsurface at the front of doll body 52 (FIG. 7). Member 59 includes spacedparallel guide walls 61, 62 on opposite sides of level 58. Pin 63 isforce fitted into aligned apertures of wall 61, 62 and passes through arelatively loose fitting aperture at a point intermediate the ends oflever 58 to pivotally mount lever 58. Torsion spring 64 having the midportion thereof wound about the portion of pin 63 to the right of wall62 in FIG. 6 and is retained by block 63a on pin 63. End 640 is held infixed position by extending through an aperture in mounting member 59.The other end 64b of spring 64 extends through aperture 58a of lever 58with spring 64 being loaded to exert a forwardly directed force on theupper portion of lever 58.

Mounting member 59 also includes rearwardly extending guide channel 65within which operating member 51 is slideably mounted. Wire Spring 66extending through aperture 65a of channel 65 and aperture 51a of member51 biases the latter rearward and to the right with respect to FIG. 6(to the left with respect to FIG. 7) toward the lower portion of lever58. Normally, extension 71 of member 51 projects outside of body 52through rear aperture 52a being biased to this position by spring 66. Inthis normal position for member 51 step 72a thereof is positioned behindrear surface 58b of lever 58.

As member 51 is moved forward, step surface 720 in engagement with leversurface 58b forces the lower end of lever 58 forward so that the upperend of lever 58 pivots rearward thereby operating arm 55 in acounterclockwise direction about its pivot 56. During this forwardmovement of member 51 inclined surface 72b thereof is in engagement withguide wall 61. By the time member 51 has just about reached the limit ofits forward movement the cooperation of inclined surface 72b and wall 61cams step 72a sideways with respect to lever 58 to a position wherelever 58 is no longer engaged by member 51. Under these conditions,spring 64 operates the upper end of lever 68 forward thereby pivotingarm 55 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 56.

Upon release of member 511, spring 66 moves member 51 rearward and whenthe latter is just about at its most rearward position, spring 66 isalso effective to move step 72a behind lever surface 58b so that uponthe next forward actuation of operator member 51, lever 58 will beoperated. It is noted that forward movement of the upper end of lever 58is limited by engagement with formation 73 of mounting member 59.

Activity doll of FIGS. 8 through 10 includes hollow body 101, head 102,arms 103, 104, and legs 105, 106. Operating mechanism subassemblymounted within body 101 is connected to arm 104 and leg 106 for positiveoperation of these limbs by depressible operators 114, 116,respectively. The former operator 114 extends through aperture 113 inthe rear of body 101 and the latter operator 116 extends throughaperture in the front of body 101. Arm operator 114 extends through tube112 projecting rearwardly from body 101. Tube 112 is provided forconveniently holding and walking doll 100.

Mechanism subassembly 110 includes frame 121 and C-shaped retainer 122having out-tumed ears 123, 124. Bars 123, 124 extend through slots inframe 121 and are outwardly bent to mount retainer 122 to frame 121.

Meshing Spur gears 125, 126 disposed in the space between retainer 122and frame 121 are keyed to shafts 127, 128, respectively, with bothshafts 127, 128 extending through retainer 122 and frame 121 and beingpivotally supported thereon. Arm 104 is keyed to the outboard end ofshaft 127 while leg 106 is keyed at its upper or shoulder end to theoutboard end of sub-shaft 131 also pivotally mounted frame 121. Theoutboard end of shaft 128 is keyed to gear while the inboard end ofshaft 128 is keyed to crank 138. Pin 139 extends from crank 138 on theside thereof opposite gear 125 and is parallel to shaft 128. Wire spring133 bears against the inner front surface of body 101 and also bearsagainst pin 139 thereby biasing crank 138 in a clockwise direction asseen in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

Operator 114 extends at right angles to pin 139 and is provided with anaperture which receives pin 139 to provide a driving connection betweenoperator 114 and pin 139. Thus, as operator 114 is depressed from theposition of FIG. 9A to the position of FIG. 9B, crank 138 is pivoted ina counterclockwise direction against the force of spring 133 causingpivotal movement of the larger gear 125 about its axis 128. Rotation oflarger gear 125 in mesh with smaller gear 126 causes multiplied angularmotion of the latter so that appreciable pivotal movement of arm 104takes place as gear 125 pivots. When operator 114 is released spring 133acts on pin 139 to pivot crank 138 clockwise thereby lowering arm 104.

The inboard end of shaft 131 is keyed to crank 141. Pin 142 projectsfrom the side of crank 141 opposite leg 106 and in a direction parallelto pin 131. Operator 116 is a tubular member having a cutaway portion atits inboard end and an aperture which receives pin 142. Thus, whenoperator 116 is depressed by being moved toward the rear of doll 100,pin 142 moves to the rear causing crank 141 to pivot clockwise about pin131 as a center, thereby raising leg 106 to the position shown in thesolid line in FIG. 98. Upon release of operator 116 gravity bias returnsleg 106 to its normal lowered position of FIGS. 8 and 9A.

Thus, it is seen that the instant invention provides simple yet ruggedand compact operating mechanisms for operating the limb ofa doll in amanner to simulate natural action. In one embodiment of this inventionthe limb pivots forward and rearward in response to front and rearmovements, respectively, of a manually depressible memberwhile inanother embodiment of this invention the limb moves forward and thenrearward by the time the depressible member has completed a forwardstroke. While arm movement has been shown as being effectuated by arearward extending operator, by suitable modifications arm movement maybe effectuated by a depressible forwardly extending actuator.

Although there has been described a preferred embodiment of this novelinvention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to be limited,not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appending claims.

As above set forth, the doll constructions shown in the drawings anddescribed in the Specification permit a child playing therewith to makea variety of adjustments in both the attitude of the doll's arm or legprior to actuating the same and the actual path through which the arm orleg will swing when the actuator is operated. As set forth, frictionaladjustment of the articulated arm or leg on its pivot may be effected byhand moving the arm or leg beyond its at-rest position or the maximumthrow thereof so as to frictionally move same to a new location andthereby permit variable adjustment of the point at which the swing ofthe limb is initiated as the actuator is operated and the furthermostpoint of swing of the limb derived by complete operation of theactuator. In other words, the arm of the doll of FIGS. 1 and 2 may befrictionally adjusted on its pivot so that it normally hangssubstantially vertically downwardly alongside the doll body and willthereafter swing about an arc, say 90 to a horizontal position tosimulate such actions as picking up an object, rolling a ball, punching,raising the hand for simulated hand shake, etc. The arm 15 may also befrictionally adjusted so that it is in a substantially horizontallyposition at its starting point when the actuator is unactuated so thatit will swing upwardly from said horizontal position to a locationopposite or immediately in front of the face. This action may beutilized to simulate such human activities as moving an object to theface or mouth, combing the hair, eating, etc. If the arm is adjustedsuch that its starting is somewhat above the horiziontal, it may be madeto swing upwardly to simulate such activities, when the actuator isoperated, as waving, putting on a hat, etc.

Bendably adjusting the arm about the elbow and properly adjusting thepath of swing thereof when the actuator 33 is operated, may also permitthe arm to simulate a variety of other human activities such as throwinga ball, reaching for an object which is above waist level, dusting orcleaning, etc.

We claim:

1. An articulated figure toy comprising:

a body including a torso with a head simulating the human head connectedthereto,

a simulated arm supported on said torso and pivotable relative thereto,

actuating means mounted on said toy for causing the swinging movement ofsaid arm through a substantially predetermined arc defined by aninitiating point in the swing of the arm and a terminal point, and

adjustable means associated with said arm permitting its attitude to bemanually varied prior to the operation of said actuating means wherebythe path of movement of the end of said arm may be variably changed suchthat the initiating and terminal points of the arm movement may berespectively varied in location so as to permit the simulation of anumber of human activities when the actuating means is operated.

2. A figure toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said adjustable meanscomprises means for variably adjusting the attitude of the lower portionof the arm with respect to the upper portion thereof and maintaining theadjustment thereof during the operation of said actuating means.

3. A figure toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said adjustable meanscomprises frictional means joining said arm at its pivot and permittingsaid initiating point in the swing of the arm to be varied in locationso that the operation thereafter of said actuating means may cause thearm to initiate and end its pivoting movement at a variety of differentlocations to thereby permit the simulation of different humanactivities.

4. A figure toy in accordance with claim 2 wherein said adjustable meanscomprises a bendable wire located within the doll arm and wherein thedoll arm is made of a flexible material permitting it to be adjustablybent to different configurations and to substantially retain saidconfigurations.

5. An articulated figure toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidactuating means is operable to cause swinging movement of said armthrough an are which is substantially horizontal when said torso isdisposed substantially vertical.

6. An articulated figure toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidactuating means is operable to cause swinging movement of said armthrough an are which extends substantially vertical when said torso isdisposed substantially vertical.

7. An animation figure including a body portion, a limb supported bysaid body portion for movement relative to said body portion with apivot-like motion, an operator mounted on said body portion and having afirst section extending into said body portion and a second sectionprojecting externally of said body portion and accessible for operationof said operator from a first to a second position, an operatingmechanism disposed within said body portion and connected to said limb,said mechanism when actuated pivoting said limb from a first position toa second position, means for adjusting said limb relative to said bodywhen at said first position to vary the attitude of said limb and thepath the end of said limb describes during said movement,

biasing means urging said operator to its first position and said limbto its first position, said operator first section being in operativeengagement with said mechanism to actuate the latter upon operation ofsaid operator from its first towards its second position, said mechanismproviding a driving connection between said limb and said operator asthe latter moves from its first toward its second position wherebyenergy for moving said operator toward its second position istransmitted through said mechanism to operate said limb toward itssecond position.

8. A figure as set forth in claim 7 in which the driving connectionremains intact for all positions of said limb and said operator wherebypositions of said limb are related to positions of said operator for allpositions of the latter.

9. A figure as set forth in claim 7 in which there is a means forbreaking said driving connection when said operator reaches its secondposition whereby said biasing means operates said limb to its firstposition while said operator is held in its second position.

10. A figure as set forth in claim 7 in which said mechanism includespivoted meshing first and second gear means, and means guiding saidoperator for linear movement.

11. A figure as set forth in claim 10 in which first and second pivotsare provided for the respective first and second gear means, said firstsection of said operator operatively engaging said first gear means, aprojection extending radially from said second pivot and mounting saidlimb thereon whereby said second pivot constitutes a center about whichsaid limb moves.

12. A figure as set forth in claim 11 in which there is a crank securedto said first pivot, said operator having a slot extending generallyperpendicular to the direction of movement of said operator, a pinextending from said crank into said slot and positioned parallel to saidfirst pivot, said pin and said slot providing a connection between saidoperator and said first gear means.

13. A figure as set forth in claim 7 in which there is a first pivot towhich said limb is mounted, said mechanism including a lever, a secondpivot mounting said lever at a point intermediate its ends, the axes ofsaid pivots being perpendicular to each other, an extension from saidlimb engaging one end of said lever, said operator engaging said leverat its other end.

14. A figure as set forth in claim 13 in which said mechanism includes afixed formation, said first section engaging said formation as saidoperator moves toward its second position whereby said first sectionmoves sideways away from said lever as said operator moves toward itssecond position and upon reaching its second position is disengaged fromsaid lever.

15. A figure as set forth in claim 7 in which said mechanism comprises asubassembly including a frame, meshing gears pivotally mounted to saidframe, a crank keyed to a first of said gears and pivotally connected tosaid operator, a second of said gears keyed to said limb whereby saidlimb pivots as said second gear pivots.

16. A figure as set forth in claim 15 in which said first gear is oflarger diameter than said second gear to multiply motion transmittedfrom said operator to said limb.

17. A figure as set forth in claim 15 in which said subassembly includesanother crank pivotally mounted to said frame, said figure includinganother limb keyed to said another crank to pivot therewith, anotheroperator mounted to said body for reciprocating motion, said end of saidanother operator extending externally of said body and accessible to bemanually depressed, the other end of said another operator beingpivotally connected to said another crank to pivot the latter when saidanother operator is depressed.

18. A figure as set forth in claim 7 in which there is a hand holdabletube connected to said body and extending externally thereof, saidoperator extending through said tube to a position external thereof andexternal of said body.

1. An articulated figure toy comprising: a body including a torso with a head simulating the human head connected thereto, a simulated arm supporteD on said torso and pivotable relative thereto, actuating means mounted on said toy for causing the swinging movement of said arm through a substantially predetermined arc defined by an initiating point in the swing of the arm and a terminal point, and adjustable means associated with said arm permitting its attitude to be manually varied prior to the operation of said actuating means whereby the path of movement of the end of said arm may be variably changed such that the initiating and terminal points of the arm movement may be respectively varied in location so as to permit the simulation of a number of human activities when the actuating means is operated.
 2. A figure toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said adjustable means comprises means for variably adjusting the attitude of the lower portion of the arm with respect to the upper portion thereof and maintaining the adjustment thereof during the operation of said actuating means.
 3. A figure toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said adjustable means comprises frictional means joining said arm at its pivot and permitting said initiating point in the swing of the arm to be varied in location so that the operation thereafter of said actuating means may cause the arm to initiate and end its pivoting movement at a variety of different locations to thereby permit the simulation of different human activities.
 4. A figure toy in accordance with claim 2 wherein said adjustable means comprises a bendable wire located within the doll arm and wherein the doll arm is made of a flexible material permitting it to be adjustably bent to different configurations and to substantially retain said configurations.
 5. An articulated figure toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said actuating means is operable to cause swinging movement of said arm through an arc which is substantially horizontal when said torso is disposed substantially vertical.
 6. An articulated figure toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said actuating means is operable to cause swinging movement of said arm through an arc which extends substantially vertical when said torso is disposed substantially vertical.
 7. An animation figure including a body portion, a limb supported by said body portion for movement relative to said body portion with a pivot-like motion, an operator mounted on said body portion and having a first section extending into said body portion and a second section projecting externally of said body portion and accessible for operation of said operator from a first to a second position, an operating mechanism disposed within said body portion and connected to said limb, said mechanism when actuated pivoting said limb from a first position to a second position, means for adjusting said limb relative to said body when at said first position to vary the attitude of said limb and the path the end of said limb describes during said movement, biasing means urging said operator to its first position and said limb to its first position, said operator first section being in operative engagement with said mechanism to actuate the latter upon operation of said operator from its first towards its second position, said mechanism providing a driving connection between said limb and said operator as the latter moves from its first toward its second position whereby energy for moving said operator toward its second position is transmitted through said mechanism to operate said limb toward its second position.
 8. A figure as set forth in claim 7 in which the driving connection remains intact for all positions of said limb and said operator whereby positions of said limb are related to positions of said operator for all positions of the latter.
 9. A figure as set forth in claim 7 in which there is a means for breaking said driving connection when said operator reaches its second position whereby said biasing means operates said limb to its first position while said operator is held in its second position.
 10. A figure as sEt forth in claim 7 in which said mechanism includes pivoted meshing first and second gear means, and means guiding said operator for linear movement.
 11. A figure as set forth in claim 10 in which first and second pivots are provided for the respective first and second gear means, said first section of said operator operatively engaging said first gear means, a projection extending radially from said second pivot and mounting said limb thereon whereby said second pivot constitutes a center about which said limb moves.
 12. A figure as set forth in claim 11 in which there is a crank secured to said first pivot, said operator having a slot extending generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of said operator, a pin extending from said crank into said slot and positioned parallel to said first pivot, said pin and said slot providing a connection between said operator and said first gear means.
 13. A figure as set forth in claim 7 in which there is a first pivot to which said limb is mounted, said mechanism including a lever, a second pivot mounting said lever at a point intermediate its ends, the axes of said pivots being perpendicular to each other, an extension from said limb engaging one end of said lever, said operator engaging said lever at its other end.
 14. A figure as set forth in claim 13 in which said mechanism includes a fixed formation, said first section engaging said formation as said operator moves toward its second position whereby said first section moves sideways away from said lever as said operator moves toward its second position and upon reaching its second position is disengaged from said lever.
 15. A figure as set forth in claim 7 in which said mechanism comprises a subassembly including a frame, meshing gears pivotally mounted to said frame, a crank keyed to a first of said gears and pivotally connected to said operator, a second of said gears keyed to said limb whereby said limb pivots as said second gear pivots.
 16. A figure as set forth in claim 15 in which said first gear is of larger diameter than said second gear to multiply motion transmitted from said operator to said limb.
 17. A figure as set forth in claim 15 in which said subassembly includes another crank pivotally mounted to said frame, said figure including another limb keyed to said another crank to pivot therewith, another operator mounted to said body for reciprocating motion, said end of said another operator extending externally of said body and accessible to be manually depressed, the other end of said another operator being pivotally connected to said another crank to pivot the latter when said another operator is depressed.
 18. A figure as set forth in claim 7 in which there is a hand holdable tube connected to said body and extending externally thereof, said operator extending through said tube to a position external thereof and external of said body. 